Article of furniture



Aug. 13, 1935. A. D. FULLER 2,010,855

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed July 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 v r O a Patented Aug. 13, 1935 1 UNITED a S AT S 2,010,855"? ARTICL OF FURNITURE Andrewp. Fuller, lBostomjMassLd Application July 8, 1933,Serial No. 679,558

1 Qlaiin. j (01.311 52) The principal object of my invention is to provide an article of furniture to be used as a table for dining or other domestic uses or as a card table or otherwise or as a work table'or work bench fora great variety of uses in combination with a pedestal or cabinet for storage of implements, materials, books or other things, A featureof my invention isa pedestal or cabinet so constructed as to provide ready interchangeability, as desired, of the containers or other sliding elements within the pedestal.

Another feature is that I extend thecontainer or other sliding elements to ride on ledges in the pedestal or cabinet; l l

Another feature is a supporting leg comprising two relatively movable members, preferably telescopic, to provide support for a; leaf hinged to a pedestal or cabinet, especially when thelength of the leaf is less than the height from the floor to the under side of the leaf when the latter is raised, it being understood that said two relative- 1y movable members are carried by said hinged leaf. l

Other features are described below. In the drawings *Figure 1 is a perspective of an article of furniture embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the pedestal shown in Figure 1 combined with members for extend-- ing the top surface and with a supporting leg fully described below; and

Figure 3 is a perspective of a drawer. Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the shelf, leg and support, said section being taken of the device,-set up as shown in Figurel; I l

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section through the leg and shelf, said section being and I Figure 6 is a 'longitudinalvertical section of the device when completely collapsed. A pedestal frame for the drawers or other gfimembers, described below, comprises a bottom I, a back 2, side members 3 and 4 and top memher 5 all suitably held together. Side member 4 has ledges 6, preferably integral with the side member, and the tops of these are spaced at equal distances apart. Side member 3 has similar ledges not necessary to be shown. Suitable drawers or slides are used to move in and out on said ledges. One of these drawers is shown fully in Figure 3 and comprises a base I and four upright side pieces 8, 9, l0 and II suitably joined. The

showing the structure taken of the device set up as shown in Figure l;

base 1 is extended outside of side II at l2 to form a projection in the nature "of a key to ride on one of theledges 6 in side 3. An extension like l2 PA N OFFICE,

(not shown) projecting from side 9 will ride in one of the ledges 6 in side 4. The height of the drawer is slightly less than the distance from the top of one ledge to the top'ofthe next ledge above or is slightly less than a multiple of said distance, such distances being'equal for all ledges. In Figure 1 I show, by way of illustration, a slide 13', a drawer l4 and also a drawer l5, thespace in the drawing between drawers I4 and I5 being or shelves providing open space for storage.

With my arrangement the drawers and slides may be interchangeable as to their relative vertical arrangement, so that, for example, the seven sliding elements-in Figure 2 may be rearranged, as desired. Moreover, a greater or less number could be used to fill the space between bottom I and top 5 'so long as each of them is, in height, equal to, or a multiple of, the distance from the topof one ledge to the top of the next and in case said space is to be substantially filled the sumof the heights of all the members will be substantiallyequal to said space.

It will be understood that the side pieces 9, l0 and H may be as high, but must not be higher, than the height of the front side piece 8 so that no element will ride on the movable element below it. 7

*To provide additional top surface the leaf l6, hinged at I1, totop 5 may be swung back into the dotted position of Figure 2. If desired, any

additional support, other than hinges ll, maybe l provided.

Hinged at additional table top surface. be held in elevated position byfsuitable folding brackets connecting shelf I9 and side 4, but I prefer to' support shelf 1 9 by a leg pivoted to the outer end of shelf 19 at ill to obtain greater stability. When the distance from the upper side of top 5 to the floor is greater than the length of the E8 to top 5 is a shelf I9 to provide shelf It it is highly important that the support- This shelf i9 may ing leg-be capable of extension to correspond with said distance so that the leg may be folded against the under side of shelf i9 and the latter and the leg may be swung down on hinge l8 so as, when not in use, to lie substantially parallel with side 1, When the shelf I 9 is raised to horizontal position the leg will hang down in vertical position but will not reach the floor if the distance from the shelf (in such horizontal position) to the floor is greater than the length of the shelf l9 and consequently it is made extensible, One form of such extensibility is shown in Figure 2 in which two telescoping members are used, the upper one comprising two side portions 2| and 22 held in proper spaced position by block 23, side portion 22 being interiorly grooved to receive key 24, and side portion 2i being interiorly groovedto receive key 25, both of these keys being integral with the other telescoping member 25, the latter having a suitably formed foot 2'! to engage the floor. The

telescoping members are held in the extended po-' sition shown in Figure 2 by spring bolt 28 mounted through member if and engaging in a hole (not shown in member 26, this hole being like hole 29 in member 26, which hole engages spring bolt 28, when the telescoping members are collapsed, to hold them in collapsed position as when,

they lie alongside wall t as well as until the shelf is fully raised, at which time spring bolt 28 is released from hole so that member 26 may drop to thefioor and the spring bolt 28 may then engage in the hole, (not shown) in member 26. The spring bolt engaging in one or the other of the two holes inmember 2t prevents all accidental separationof the two telescoping members. Any suitablefolding bracket, suchas 36, connects either-member 2! or 22 with shelf 89 to hold the leg in vertical position. v

I provide a block 3! fixed to shelf l9 and extendingacross the latter and being spaced from the side portions 2! and 22 and connecting block 23 of the upper, telescoping member, said block being provided with a finger recess 32, the purpose of this featurebeing to prevent pinching of the,

fingers while the shelf i9 is being raised to horizontal position and while, consequently, the leg is swinging with relation to shelf I9, this guarding of the fingers being an importantadvantage from the practical standpoint.

Hinged to shelf H9 at 33 is leaf 34 which may be swung throughjl80 backward into the dotted line position of Figure 2 when it is desired to have additional table top surface at the rear, of shelf l9. It will beunderstood leaf it may occupy either its full line or dotted position independently of the position of leaf 3% and the latter may occupy its full line or dotted. line position independently of leaf it or, if desired, leaves it and- 5 with the leaves it and 341 hinged appropriately for such other locations. 7

The bolt 35 not only provides for simultaneous swinging of leaves l6 and 34 but alines those leaves with relation to each other if both are closed as in full lines, or both are open as in dotted lines.

For one living in restricted quarters, as many women do, and obliged to go out for or prepare and consume meals under hit or miss conditions my article of furniture gives a new zest to life from its very convenience of use, orderly storage compartments and compactness when not in'use. It can be moved about the room' easily, placed in advantageous position for Work or for play and then folded and returned to its space-saving position when, with the top raised and folded back against the wall, it makes a pleasant addition to the room.

Without such accommodation the constant getting up and down to fetch something lacking in the usual set up, as enough sugar, salt, silver or What not, becomes sufficient mental strain to prevent proper nourishment being consumed.

With this table I have everything at hand for the ordinary use to which the table is to be put. If it is for domestic use, such as cooking and eating, then the heights of drawers are selected accordingly and prove to be adequate in size and depth for the needs of one or more persons. By

following the prescribed plan of orderly arrange-' ment enough linen, silver, glass, dishes, utensils and supplies, each in its appointed place, can be stored in the drawers to meet the needs of one or two.

In a similar way the table is adaptable to many other locations and uses. As a worktable or bench the ability to change easily the vertical sequence of the drawers enables each user to place at the top or most convenient position for use the size ofdrawer, whether small or large, for tools or supplies most in use and yet be able to change again whenever the work or tools change.

The form of supports, whether a drawer, a cupboard or a slide as a shelf, often determines the size of the article to be stored. In this table the drawer or cupboard or shelf space can be made to fit any article within the total storage height. The whole table can be folded easily against the drawer casing, slipped into a carton jacket and taken to a new location or mailed there by parcel post.

All the parts, or any part, of my article of furniture may be made of wood or metal or other suitable material.

What I claim is;

An article of furniture comprising a support; a shelf pivotally connected to said support; a leaf pivotally connected to the top of the support on an axis which is at a right angle to the axis upon which the shelf is pivoted; a leaf pivotally connected to the shelf on an axis which is at a right angle to the axis upon which the shelf is pivoted; and means to lock the leaves together for simultaneous movement thereof and for alignment thereof.

ANDREW D. FULLER. 

